MARITIME CONFERENCE

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1832, 17 April 1907, Page 44

MARITIME CONFERENCE

OVERSEA SHIPS AND COMMON- ; WEALTH LAW. ALti VESSELS LIABLE. LONDON, April 9. At its yesterday’s sitting the Navigation Conference discussed the classes of' voyages of merchant ships to which Australasian conditions should be made applicable. Ultimately a resolution, moved by Mr ,W. M. Hughes, Commonwealth representative, was carried unanimously, ilhfis* proposes that vessels registered in the colonies shall be rendered liable to the Australasian law while trading in Australasian 'waters; and also all other vessels, wherever registered, while engaged in coastal trade. All vessels shall be deemed to he traders if they take cargo or passengers from any colonial port for any other colonial port. Mir Norman Hill, of the P. and 0. Company, representing the shipowners, believed that, if the Commonwealth applied Australasian oonditions to oversea ' vessels doing incidental coasting trade, some of the British services might be compelled to withdraw. /Mr Dugald'' Thomson, a Commonwealth delegate, dissented from any attempt being made to shut out British oversea vessels from incidental coastal trade, which chiefly concerned passenger traffic. . . ; Sir William Lyne,; Federal Minister for Tirade and Customs, denied .•’that there was any hostility towards oversea shipment. The Australian proposals were merely part and parcel of the contracts law, to prevent the importation of workmen at lower rates than were paid, locally. ..... -—«—• »— COASTAL TRADE AND WAGES. WHERE THEY SHALL APPLY. . LONDON, April 9. i The colonial delegates, at yesterday’s sitting, of -the Navigation Conference, refused to accept a rider by Mr Norman Hill,, shipowners’ representative, suggesting that, as a matter of expediency, oversea vessels only engaged in the colonial coasting trade to the .extent of taking passengers or cargo from one colonial port to another should not be deemed to be engaged in the coastal trade. After Mr Lloyd-George - , President of the Board of Trade, had consulted with the Australasian delegates, the Conference resolved that a vessel engaged in the oversea trade shall not be deemed to be engaged in the coasting- trader merely because she carries, between Australian and New - Zealand ports firstly, passengers- holding through tickets to or from some oversea' place; secondly, merchandise consigned on a through bill of lading to or from, some oversea place, SCOPE OF WAGE REGULATIONS. The Conference , next, discussed the question of the, limits within which Australasian wages regulations are applicable. • There was considerable discussion as to whether. Australasian wages should apply to oversea vessels trading between Australia or New Zealand, on the one hand, and the Pacific Islands on .the other hand. < The first point was whether the wages should apply to crews shipped in Australasia by such vessels; this the Conference conceded. The, second point was whether the wages , should apply to any vessel and any crew so-trading. Sir William Lyne, Federal Minister for Trade and Customs, argued that crews picked up in' Australasian ports by foreign ships trading to the Pacific Islands ought to come under Australasian wages conditions. On the motion of-Sir Joseph Ward, a resolution was carried recognising the right of Australasian Governments •te' proride that crews shipped from Australia or New Zealand to Fiji or the Pacific"lslands should receive such wages as their respective Governments fixed.' "Sir Joseph Ward contended that Australasian steamship owners were entitled to be protected. It was unfair to them and to their officers and seamen if other ships were allowed to compete by paying lower wages. Mr Hughes strongly urged the application of Australian conditions to any vessels trading from the Commonwealth to: Fiji or the Pacific. Islands. The Colonial Office’s legal delegates questioned the Commonwealth’s right to apply Australian conditions to oversea vessels touching at an AustraJiara. port and . then proceeding to 'Fiji. .Sir William Lyne quoted a legal decision* referring to the breaking of a sealed store outside territorial waters, and the fining of the vessel at the next Australian port of call. The question was not settled. ; SUEZ CANAIf CONTROL Sir- Joseph Ward gave notice to urge the British Government to so-

: cure recognition of the rights of the Commonwealth and of New Zealand to representation on the Suez Canal Council. * > Sir - Joseph Ward will also move that the British, the Commonwealth, and the New Zealand Governments be asked to legislate to give effect to the resolutions of the Conference. Sir Joseph Ward, in deference to Mr jLloyd-Goorge’s suggestion, at a later i stage, withdrew liis Suez Canal Council i resolution, with a view to introducing lit at the Colonial Conference, after ; consultation with Mr Deakin. an advisory Committee. (Received April 10, 9.28 p.m.) LONDON, April 10. ; Mr Lloyd George has appointed an i Advisory Committee to consider rules, ! regulations, and scales under the ! Merchant Shipping Acts. SHIPPING LICENSES. DEMARCATION OF COASTAL TRADE LIMITS. LONDON, April 10. At the Navigation Conference it | was resolved that no ship shall trade on the Australian coast without a license. The, Colonial Office delegates suggested that licenses might take the form of a tax sufficient to prove a serious handicap. .Mr Hughes explained that the Royal Commission entertained no such intention. It was only proposed to charge a small fee to cover official expenses. The discussion was reopened on Sir Joseph Ward’s motion respecting the right of Australasian Governments to fix the wages of crews shipped in the Commonwealth and New Zealand for Fiji and the Pacific Islands. Mr Hill agreed that the colonies could exercise jurisdiction in their territorial waters, but he was unable to entertain the extension of the principle beyond those. Slir William Lyne desired a line of demarcation indicating what came within the coastal trade limits of the Commonwealth and New Zealand. Mr Lloyd-George remarked that since the proposal really involved an alteration of the colonial constitution, it was preferable that the resolution should be referred to the Colonial Conference. Sir Joseph Ward accepted the sug gestion. He said he was very desirous of protecting colonial shipowners against unfair competition from outside. Mr Lloyd-George explained that lie had not expected his remark to be taken literally. Ho only meant to indicate a difficulty that might arise in legislating. Mr Hughes moved—That the Conference approves of the principle of the manning scale being made applic- | able to all vessels registered in the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. An interesting discussion resulted from a Board of Trade expert incidentally revealing the fact that the department insisted on a certain minimum of officers and crew before recognising a vessel as seaworthy. Mr Dugald Thomson insisted that it was necessary to produce an equitable manning scale. Mr Hughes suggested that this should be the case with competitors who did not comply with the colonial laws. (Mr Lloyd-George ruled Mr Hughes’s motion, that Australian conditions be applied to all ships engaged in trading toi and from any port of the Commonwealth and the islands of the Pacific, out of order. Mr Hughes thereupon raised the question of the scope of the Conference, claiming that Mr Lyttelton’s (exColonial Secretary) invitation contemplated that .the Conference would have very wide powers. How was it possible, he-asked,.-to secure uniform Aegis, lation when the president indicated that no fresh Imperial Navigation Bill would be introduced for many years? ; If that were so, uniformity was only possible by restricting the freedom of colonial, legislation and - the appointment of a committee to adjust anomalies. - Sar William Lyne thought the pro, vious resolutions secured for Australians what they wanted. The shipowners’ representative con-, tended that regarding efficient manning, on the element of seaworthiness, every ship ought to be judged on its own merits. At Mr Lloyd-George’s suggestion Mr Hughes’s motion was amended on the lines of the clause in the original Commonwealth Bill, that no ship be deemed seaworthy unless the authorities were satisfied regarding the number and qualifications of the orew, including officers, to encounter the ordinary perils of a voyage. This was carried,. Sir Joseph Ward brought forward a motion recommending that the Board of Trade, in any amending Shipping Act, give masters, mates, and engineers the designation of “officers," without prejudice to any rights they enjoy as seamen. ' - . This was oarried unanimously.

Sir William Lyne moved that every possible encouragement be given, by legislation or otherwise, to the employment of British seamon in British ships, in preference to foreigners. Mr Lloyd-George suggested that it would be better to omit the last four words, since an international question was involved. The suggestion was accepted, and the resolution carried with the addition of the words “that this resolution does not contemplate the imposition of restrictive conditions.” Mr Hughes insisted on a clear understanding that the Commonwealth’s right to make such restrictions, if Parliament thought fit, to all ships registered in or trading within the Commonwealth’s jurisdiction, was rot limited. Mr Lloyd-George thought the resolution only implied possible Imperial action to enlarge the employment of seamen by means of subsidies as incentives to shipowners to employ apprentices. Sir Joseph Ward’s motion asking the Board of Trade to publish a form of a bill of lading safeguarding the rights of shippers, shipowners, and consignees, was carried. Amendments moved by Mr Hill, that legislation restricting liberty of contract on charter parties and bills of lading was unnecessary and undesirable, were defeated on a vote being taken, the Imperial delegates abstaining from voting. COLONIAL IDEAL. EXCLUSION OiF COLOURED SEAMEN AND STOKERS. PAYMENT OF CREWS. LONDON, April 11. At yesterday’s sitting of the Navigation Conference consideration was given to the International Conventions adopted at Brussels in 1905, for the unification of the law regarding collisions and salvage. The subject was adjourned to enable Sir William Lvne and Sir Joseph Ward to submit suggestions to the Imperial Government, which had withheld its adhesion to the Conventions until the colonies could be consulted. Mr Belcher, New Zealand seamen’s delegate, moved —‘‘That this Confer-” ence is opposed to the employment of Lascars, coolies, Chinamen, or persons of any alien race on any vessel owned or chartered to trade in the Commonwealth or New Zealand/’ The mover said his aim was to keep the Asiatic blot off Australasia. Sir James Maclcay, speaking on behalf of the India Office, explained that it was impossible to consider legislation excluding Lascars from the British mercantile marine. It would be a great reflection on hundreds of millions of loyal, sober, and industrious British snjbjects. If the proposal were adopted it would place Australian vessels trading in India and the East under serious disabilities. Sir William Lyne supported the motion, urging that the stoking difficulty was exaggerated. What white stokers in the navy accomplished in the tropics, others could do in trading vessels. Sir Joseph Ward believed that it would be to the best interests of the Empire to employ white crews. The Government of New Zealand would never subsidise any steamer carrying other than whites. He eulogised the Union Company’s spontaneous response to the requirements of the New Zealand law. Mr W. M. Hughes (Australia) said that at any rate the objection of the India Office .would not apply to Chinese and other coloured aliens. Mr H. B. Oox, legal Assistant Under-Secretary of the Colonial Office, recalled Mr Chamberlain’s despatch in which he protested against drawing a colour line, and suggesting other means of attaining the end desired. Mr Hughes retorted that the imposition of a general education test hadi created the calumny that Australia; wished to exclude-whites. He objected to any discrimination, regarding accommodation and general conditions,, between coloured and white seamen. . Though the Conference was not unfavourable to this, the Imperial delegates objected, and the suggestion was not pressed. Mr Belcher suggested the substitution of “coloured labour” for the words; “Lascars, coolies, and Chinamen” in his motion, but this was not accepted, and ultimately the motion was withdrawn. A motion by Sir Joseph Ward, urging the Beard of Trade to give immediate consideration to the improvement of eyesight tests, was carried. The Conference also agreed to amotion by Mr Anderson (shipowners’ delegate), making the Board of Trade’s: current oertificateiof efficiency for compasses equivalent to a local certificate. Mr Belcher moved that the Board, of Trade be requested to legislate whereby all seamen shall be paid: the full wages dive to them at any port they desire.

Mr Belcher agreed to substitute “two-thirds” for the “full amount, and Sir William Lyne then supported the motion. Mr Lloyd-George moved as an amendment, “That this Conference approve* of the proposition in the Merchant Shipping Act; 1906, respecting the allotment and payment or seamen a wages.” The British Government's delegates, representatives of the British shipowners and seamen, and Mr Dugald Thomson (Australia) voted for th« amendment, while, all the colonial delegates (excepting Mr Thomson) dissented from the amendment and accepted Mr Belcher’s motion. Mr Belcher then moved: “That tlia Board of Trade investigate the clause! attached by shipowners to articles and agreements,signed by crews.” He stat. ed his object was to secure uniformity and establish the principle of equity between employer and employed. The Government, shipping, and sea. men’s delegates expressed themselves satisfied with the present law, and tha motion was withdrawn The Conference adjourned till Monday week. Sir William Lyne declares that he is absolutely satisfied ho has accomplished a great deal more than he expected, having practically secured all he required.